Signaling device



3 sheets-sheet l INVENTOR /g/.sses 6. Rus/2 July 10, 1934. U. s. RUSHSIGNALING' DEVICE Original Filed June 27, 1927 July 10, 1934. u. s. RUSHSIGNALING DEVICE Original Filed June 27, 1927 3 Sheefs-Sheet 2 INVENTORBlY///.sses 5. z/.s/f

ATTORNEY July 10, 1934. U. s. RUSH SIGNALING `DEVICE Original Filed June27. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToR Lg/Ygsses 5. Rusk ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

Original application June 27, 1927, Serial No..

201,802, now Patent No. 1,852,540, dated April 5, 1932. Divided and thisapplication July 2,

1928, Serial No. 289,706

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in signaling devices and my presentapplication constitutes a division of my prior application Serial Number201,802 filed June 27, 1927, patented April 5, 1932, No. 1,852,540.

The object of this invention is to provide means by which pre-arranged,mutually understood, signals may be produced,'to communicate desiredinformation to persons within the range of vision of 1Q the signalingdevice.

This signaling device is especially well adapted to be installed onmovable conveyances, as motor vehicles, or air or watercraft, for thepurpose of giving signals required by law, or signals established bycommon usage,re1ative to the intentions and wishes of the personoperating the vehicle or air or water craft. The signaling device may,however, be adapted for Various other uses.

An important object of my invention is to provide a compact and eicientsignaling device in which two signal arms are pivotally mounted forswinging movement in the same plane, each of said signal arms being inthe form of a receptacle of substantial thickness to afford room withinthe signal arm for a plurality of lamp bulbs, the

A' mounting of said two signal arms so that they will .swing in the sameplane affording a very compact construction which may be installed andoperated in arelatively small space.

39 Another object of my invention is to provide a signal embodying aplurality of arms or semaphores mounted for swinging movement from aneutral position into various signaling positions and arranged to-bemoved by means that may be 'controlled by an operator located at anydesired distance from-the signal, said control embodying both signaloperating means, and stop means for predetermining the amount ofmovement of the signal.

Further objects are to provide a signalling de vice ofv this naturewhich may be operated and controlled either by electric means, by uidpressure means or by hand power means, and to provide a` signal which isadapted either forday or -night use.

A". still further object is to. provide a signal of this naturewhich maybe equipped with two or more-signal arms, movable to various differentsignalingv positions to thereby produce different signaling.combinations. which may conform to any predetermined signal code. Agreat num ber of Asignalsis not necessary for ordinary motor vehicleusesbut may be .desirable in. some other uses toV which this signal maybe adapted.

5v5 With the :above and..other.objects in View, as

will be apparent from the following description, the invention consistsin. the novel construction adaptation and combination-.of parts .of.asig nal, as will be more clearly described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view. in end elevaf tion of asignalingdevice constructed in accordf-V ance with my invention.`

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical sectionofthe same substantially on brokenline.2 2 of Fig. 1...

Fig. 3 is a sectional `view substantially. on broken line 3 3 of Fig.2..

Fig. 4 is a combined sectional .view and wiring diagram of a signalingdevice similar to the one shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that thedevice shown in Fig. 4 is operated and controlledelectromagneticallyinstead of byV fluid pressure means.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one form of electric switch which may beused in connection with the signal device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view looking down intothe housing of said switch withthe cover plate and throw member of` the switch removed.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on broken line 1 7 of Fig. 8 of a modifiedform of this signal device which is adapted to be operated by handV bymeans of a cable control.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in rear elevation and partly in sectionsubstantially on a broken. line 8 8 of Fig.Y '7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional vview on a larger=scale on broken line 9 9 of Fig.7.

Fig. 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic detached elevation of a lever controlfor the cable operated devices shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detached sectional view of said lever controldevices taken substantially on a broken line 11-11 of Fig. l0..

Like reference numerals designate like ,parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to Figs.V 1,2and 3 I show a signaling device constructed inaccordance with my invention and embodying two swinginglymounted signalarms 12 and 13 adapted to hang vertically when no signal is being givenand to be swung in opposite directions in giving. a signal. The arms 12and 13 are independently movable to diierent signaling positions andmake possible the display of a large number of different signals whichcan not be shown or displayed by the use of a single arm, it beingobvious many different signals may be formed by varying the relativepositions of the two arms.

-The signal arms 12 and 13 are provided with aA single large lamp` orbulls ,eye 14 arranged in prolongation of the axisV about which saidarms swing, said lamp 14 being common to the two arms. 'I'he arms 12 and13 are or" hollow construction and are provided with a plurality' ofsmaller lamps 15 distributed longitudinally along said arms. The signalarms' 12 and 13 have hubs 16 and 1'? respectively formed at their upperends, the hub 16 being secured to a shaft 18 and the hub 1'? beingsecured to asleeve 19 that is rotatable on the shaft 18. Current for thelamps 14 and the lamps 15 is supplied through circuit wires 20 connectedby an insulated post 21 with a Contact ring 22 on the back of the hub16. The contact ring 22 is engaged by a Contact ring 23 which isconnected by a post 24 with another contact ring 25 that rubs againststill another contact ring 26 on the front of a housing 2'?. All of thecontact rings and posts are necessarily embedded in insulating materialand current may be supplied to the ring 26 through a wire 28. The shait18 and sleeve 19 are both. rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 30 inthe upper portion of the housing 2'?. Due to the fact that the sleeve 19is rotatable on the shaft 18 and said shaft 18 is rotatable within thesleeve 19 it will be apparent that the bearings for the sleeve help tosupport the shaft and the bearings for the shaft help to support thesleeve. The housing 29 is arranged parallel with the signal arms 12 and13 and contains the means for operating said signal arms. In this formof signaling device the operating means disclosed in the drawingscomprise two' iianged gearwheels 31 and 32 secured to the sleeve 19 andshaft 18 respectively and engaged respectively by gear racks 34 and 35.The gear racks 34 and 35 are positioned on opposite sides of theirrespective gearwhels 31 and 32 for rotating the shaft 18 and the sleeve19 oppositely to swing the signal arms upward in opposite directions,and said gear racks are respectively connected with pistons 36 and 3'?in cylinders 38 and 39. Fluid under pressure is admitted to andexhausted from the cylinders 38 and 89 through conduit pipes 40 that areconnected with electromagnetically operated valves 41 which may becontrolled by the opening and closing of switches, not shown, which arelocated at any desired distance from the signal, the wiring and switchmechanism used in connection with this form of the invention not beingshown in detail. The rack bars 34 and 35 each have a ratchet lug 42provided thereon that is adapted to be engaged by a plurality of stopplungers 43 arranged `in the path of movement of said lug topredetermine the position or the amount cf the rack bar. The plungersare slidable within electromagnets 44 one electromagnet being providedfor each plunger, the electromagnets being adapted, when energized, toretract the plungers and the plungers being normally held outwardly inthe path of the lug 42 by springs 45. The plungers 43 act as positivestops to limit the upward movement of the rack bars 34 and 35 exceptelectromagnet 44 is first energized by the clos- Y ing of a suitableswitch to retract one or more Yof ythe plungers properly for the signal.The valve or valves 41 are then opened to admit the necessary motiveagent and raise the signal arms until they are stopped by the previouslypositioned plunger or plungers 43. After the signal is given the valves41 are opened to exhaust the signal arms are allowed to return toneutral and the eleetromagnets 44 are de-energized allowing the springsto return the plunger 43 to normal.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I show a modied form of signal and operatingmechanism therefor which conforms substantially with the signal shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3 except that this device is entirely electricallyoperated. In said Fig. 4, I show a housing 50 having two signal arms 51and 52 connected therewith for swinging movement in opposite directionsin the same manner as shown in Fig. 1, said arms being secured to ashaft 53 and a sleeve 54 respectively that have gearwheels 55 only oneof which is shown secured thereon. Said gearwheels 55 are engaged byrack bars 56 having pawls 5'? arranged to be engaged by stop plungers 58operated by electromagnets 59. The rack bars 56 extend downwardly intodouble electromagnets or solenoids 68 and are connected with cores 61that are adapted to be moved by the electromagnets 60 to transmitmovement through the rack bars 56, gearwheels 55 and shaft 53 or sleeve54 to one or both of the signal arms 51 or 52. In each electromagnetthere are upper and lower buier springs 62 to cushion what otherwisemight be a shock at the end of travel of the core 61. In this form ofdevice I show three of the positioning electromagnets 59 in connectionwith each rack bar and provide positive xed stops 58' only one of whichof said electromagnets to reverse the direction of K movement of thecore 6l or to return said core to the inoperative position. This switchcomprises a housing 63 having an arcuate receptacle 64 in the bottom ofwhich is embedded a common terminal or contact 65 and two sets ofcontacts 66 and 6'?. An oscillating contact member 68 pivcted at 69 andhaving nger piece 70 is provided with an insert of conductive material'70 adapted to bridge the common terminal 65 and either one of the setsof contacts 66 and 6'? when said contact member moved to either side ofthe central position. A spring '71 normally holds the contact member 68in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. to 1G inclusive I have shown a form of signal adapted to beoperated by hand, said signal embodying two signal arms 72 and '73having cylindrical hubs 74 and 'I5 respectively that are rotatablymounted on a tubular bearing member 76 which is supported by a frameplate 7'?. The hubs 72 and 78 are each provided with grooves '78 aroundwhich, operating cables '79 and 80 respectively are looped. Theoperating cables 79 and 80 pass outwardly between the signal arms '72and '73 preferably to the rear, over guide sheaves 81 that are supportedfrom the frame bracket "I7 and said operating cables are conducted to aremote point and there connected with the bottom ends of operatinglevers 82 and 83 that are movable between guides 85. The upper ends ofoperating levers 82 and 83 are connected with stub shafts 86 Fig. 11 onhand levers 87. The stub shafts 86 are pivotally mounted in xed plates88 and the hand levers 87 are provided with spring pressed detentmembers 89 movable over notched segments 90.

Movement of either hand lever 87 will move the operating lever that isconnected therewith, causing it to transmit movement through the cableor 8l to the signal arm 72 or '73 that is connected therewith. In thisWay the signal arms '72 and 73 are moved into various signalingpositions. The signal device of Figs. 7 to ll has a larger, axiallyarranged signal lamp 91 and the signal arms 'l2 and 73 are each providedwith a plurality of smaller lamps 92. Contact and conductor meanssimilar to that described in connection with Figs. l, 2 and 3 isprovided for supplying current to the lamps.

In all of the signal devices hereinbefore described the same principleof operation is maintained, the signaling being accomplished by twoswinging arms arranged to be held in a plurality of different positionsto give different signals.

The lights in the several signals may be varied as to color, number,size and arrangement as desired.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose apreferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood thatthis disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes may be madeas are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim isz- 1. In a signal device of the class described, ahousing having three aligned bearings positioned respectively in thefront wall in the rear wall and substantially medially between the frontand rear wall of said housing, a tubular shaft extending from theexterior of said housing inwardly through the bearing in said front walland abutting against said medial bearing, a relatively thick hollowsignal arm secured to said tubular shaft on the exterior of said housingin close proximity to the front wall of said housing, another shaftextending through said tubular shaft and journaled in said medialbearing and said rear wall bearing, another relatively thick hollowsignal .arm secured to said last named shaft external to said housing,said two signal arms being respectively offset to opposite sides of aplane passing through the common axis of said tubular shaft and saidother shaft and said last named signal arm being positioned alongside ofsaid first mentioned signal arm in the same plane as said firstmentioned signal arm, lamp bulb means in each of said signal arms,operating means, and devices connecting said operating means with saidsignal arms for angularly moving said signal arms.

2. In a signal device of the class described, a housing having threealigned bearings positioned respectively in the front wall in the rearwall and substantially medially between the front and rear wall of saidhousing, a tubular shaft extending from the exterior of said housinginwardly through the bearing in said front Wall and abutting againstsaid medial bearing, a relatively thick hollow signal arm secured tosaid tubular shaft on the exterior of said housing in close proximity tothe front wall of said housing, another shaft extending through saidtubular shaft and journaled in said medial bearing and said rear wallbearing, another relatively thick hollow signal arm secured to said lastnamed shaft external to said housing, said two signal arms beingrespectively offset to opposite sides of a plane passing through thecommon axis of said tubular shaft and said other shaft and said lastnamed signal arm being positioned alongside of said first mentionedsignal arm in the same plane as said rst mentioned signal arm, lamp bulbmeans in each of said signal arms, an operating member on said tubularshaft between said front bearing and said medial bearing; anotheroperating member on said other shaft between said medial bearing andsignal arm moving means connected with said operating members.

3. In a signal device of the class described, two hollow signal arms ofsubstantial thickness each affording a lamp receptacle, lamp globe meansmounted within each of said signal arms, a light conductive front sideon each of said signal arms, a support, pivot means mounting said twosignal arms on said support in side by side relation for swingingmovement in the same plane, said two L signal arms being respectivelyoffset to opposite sides of a plane passing through the axis of saidpivot means, and signal arm operating means connected with said twosignal arms, whereby said two signal arms may be moved angularly in thesame plane.

4. In a signal device of the class described, a housing, two co-axialpivot shaft members protruding unequal distances from said housing, oneof said shaft members extending through the other shaft member andprojecting beyond the outer end of said other shaft member, two hollowsignal arms of substantial thickness secured on the respective shaftmembers externally of said housing and positioned in side by siderelation in the same plane, said two signal arms being respectivelyoffset to opposite sides of a plane passing through the axis of saidpivot means, lamp globe means mounted in each of said signal arms, alight conductive front side on each of said signal arms, operating meanswithin the housing connected with the shaft members whereby said twosignal arms may be moved angularly in the same plane, and stop meansconnected with the operating means whereby the amount of movement of theoperating J means may be predetermined.

ULYSSES S. RUSH.

